More than 3,300 new COVID cases reported in Utah, 442 hospitalized

Dec 29, 2021, 1:12 PM | Updated: 4:09 pm

Tanner Davies receives a COVID-19 vaccination at a NOMI/TestUtah vaccination site in Lindon on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

BY SIMONE SEIKALY

Digital Content Producer

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health reported a high number of new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The 3,303 new cases bring the state’s total to 633,429 since the global pandemic began.

“Today we are reporting a very high number of COVID-19 cases,” said the Utah Department of Health in a statement. “This large number is likely the result of a combination of the Omicron variant and holiday events. ”

The Department also reported that 442 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Utah and that 93.5% of all ICU beds in the state are being utilized.

Another seven Utahns have died as the result of COVID-19. The state has lost 3,781 people to the novel coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.

COVID-19 and school-age children

Utah health officials said of the 3,303 new cases, 333 occurred among school-age children. Broken down, there were 120 new cases among children ages 5 – 10, 59 new cases among children ages 11 – 13, and 154 new cases among teens ages 14 – 17.

Vaccines and risk assessment

An additional 12,077 Utahns received the COVID-19 vaccine in the latest UDOH numbers. To date, health officials in the state have administered 4,526,915 vaccine doses.

According to the health department, for the last 28 days, the risk of coming down with COVID-19 is 3.4 times greater for unvaccinated Utahns. For hospitalization, the risk to the unvaccinated is ten times greater than that of vaccinated Utahns. And health officials report unvaccinated Utahns face a 17.3 times greater risk of death than vaccinated Utahns.

Rolling averages and trends

According to UDOH, the rolling 7-day average for positive COVID-19 tests in Utah is 1,571 per day.

Health officials report an increase of 15,338 Utahns tested for COVID-19 since the day before, and an increase of 27,774 tests performed.

That means the rolling 7-day average of people testing positive in Utah is 12%, and the rolling 7-day average of total positive test results is 8.2%.

How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Don’t touch your face.
Wear a mask to protect yourself and others per CDC recommendations.
Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet).
If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities).
Obtain a flu shot.
Seek out the COVID-19 vaccine.